Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 20, 1938. H. J. DICK ET AL v v 2,130,790

' REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1937 V 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r! I m Sept. 20, 1938. H. J. DIcK-ET AL 2,130,790

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 50; 19:57 3 Sheets-Shet 2 Sept. 20, 1938. H.'J. DICK ET AL.

REFRIGEHATJING APPARATUs Filed Jan. 30, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I l l E t l4 IIIIIIIIIII III.

Patented Sept. 20 1938 PATENT OFFICE anrarenaarma APPARATUS Herman J. Dick and Robert E. Fleming, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation,

Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 30,1937, Serial No. 123,242

- g 13 Claims.

l In order togprovide a more satisfactory beveragecooler, it is an object of ourinvention to provide a beverage cooler wherein a small and compact cooling coil and a water bath agitating means can be placed in the storage compartment 15 in an inconspicuous manner as a unit assembly and wherein the cooling coil thereof can be connected to a refrigerant circulatingmeans prior to the time of installation so that the samecan bereadily installed or removed from the cooler 20 without disconnecting the refrigerant lines.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a bottled beverage cooler wherein an agitating-means, for circulating the water bath, can be located adjacent a refrigerating coil, both 25 being positioned within the storage compartment, and the agitating means can be driven by means of a refrigerant liquefying unit connected to the refrigerating coil, in such a manner that the coil may beinstalled and removed independently of 30 the driving connection for the agitating means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, Peference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the 35 invention is clearly shown. c

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a top view of the beverage cooler with parts broken away to show the cooling coil;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevationalview of the bottle 40 cooler; v I

I Fig. 3 isa transverse cross-sectional view of the beverage cooler taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cooling unit and agitating means shown in Fig. 3

45 to more clearly show the structure thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the agitator driving means is connected to the refrigerantliquefying unit; and i 50 Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 6- -6 of Fig. 1. 4

In our invention, we provide a cabinet structure lliwhich is divided into two compartments. An upper compartment II is provided for the t5 storage of bottled beverages, and a. compartment I2 is positioned below compartment ll wherein a refrigerant liquefying unit may be placed. The storage compartment ll consists of a tank l3 which is provided with suitably insulated side walls l4, and an insulated bottom wall IS. A 5 liquid 9 is provided within the tank l3 as a heat transfer fluid for cooling the bottled beverages stored therein. A removable top member I 6, having an insulated wall l6a, is provided whereby access may be gained to the storage compartment 10 II. The top I6 is divided into two parts and is .provided with "hinges I! along the transverse center line thereof, so that either half of the top l6 may be raised at will without necessitating "removal of the entire member. A rubber gasket I 8 is provided between a flange IS on the top l6 and the top wall of the cabinet I 0. The gasket is retained in position by means of screws and secured thereby to the top wall of the cabinet Ill. Suitable side wall panels 2| are provided for 20 sealing the insulation [4 on the side walls of the cabinet l0 and a panel 23 is provided for sealing the bottom wall insulation l5.- The end wall panels 22 of cabinet l0 extend below the bottom wall ii of the cabinet and provide the end walls of the machinery compartment l2. The side walls of the machinery compartment l2 consist of panels 24 having louvers 25 through which air can be circulated. A cooling coil is provided within the storage 30 compartment I I and is connected to a refrigerant liquefying unit 8| by means-ofconduits 32 and .33. Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the cooling coil 30 by means of theconduit 33 from a liquid expansion device 3|. The liquid expansion device 3:, may be of any suitable type, such as a high side float operated valve, the structure of which is well known in the patented art, for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant to the cooling coil 30. The cooling coil 30 is provided with a header '35 wherein the expanded refrigerant from the coil 30 collects. The gaseous refrigerant'is with drawn from the header 35 through the conduit 32 by means of a compressor 36. The compressor is driven by means of a motor 31. Belts 38'are provided as the driving connection between the pulley 39 mounted on the motor and the flywheel 40 which is mounted on the compressor. The compressor 36 compresses the expanded gas and delivers same to a condenser 4| where the refrigeraut is liquefied in the well known manner. The motor 3'! is controlled by-means of a control switch 42, preferably of a snap acting type, many of which are disclosed in the patented art. The control switch 42 is connected to a bulb 43 by means of a conduit 44, said bulb being positioned within the water bath of the storage compartment II. The control element 42 will be responsive to pressure differentials created within the bulb 43, thereby causing the refrigerant liquefying unit to start and stop in response to the temperature of the water bath in the storage compartment II.

The cooling unit for maintaining a constant temperature within the water bath in the storage compartment and means for circulating said water bath consists of a tubular casing member 58 which is provided with a plurality of perforations A cap 5Ia is placed over the tube 58 to prevent articles from being dropped into the tube. The cooling coil 38 consists of a tube wound in a substantially cylindrical structure and is secured to the casing member 58 in any suitablemanner, such as by spot soldering the tubes to the casing 58. Thecasin-g 58 is secured to a cylindrical base-52 by means of screws 53. The base 52 is substantially of a spider-like structure having openings 54 therein, and legs 54a.

3 consists of'a flexible cable connection 88, ,one

The central portion 55 of the base 52 is provided with an extended shaft 55 which extends through a tubular member 51 positioned in the bottom wall I5 of the storage compartment II. The tubular member 51, provided in the wall I5, has an extended flange 58 on the upper end thereof. The bottom wall 59 of the tank I3 is provided with a depression 58 having an inwardly extending flange 5|. The members 55 and 51 extend through an opening 52 provided in the flange 5I. Gasket members 53 and 54-are providedcn opposite sides of the flange 5|. A nut 55 is provided on a threaded portion 55 of member 51 for compressing the gaskets 53 and 54 against the flange 5| and between flange, 58 and nut 55.

' This structure thereby provides 9. Hum tight joint around the opening 52 in the bottom wall of .the tank member I3. The end portion 55a of the extension 55 is threaded to receive a nut 51. The nut is threaded against the bottom end of member 51 causing the extension 55 to be drawn downwardly, thereby compressing a gasket 58 between the central portion 55 of the base 52 and the flange 58 of member 51 to provide a fluid tight Joint.

' A tubular member 18 is recessed in the central portion 55 of thebase 52 and is secured thereto by means of sweat soldering. The tubular member 18 extends upwardly to near the top of the casing 58. An insert 1I, provided in the tube 18, isladapted to provide a bearing for. the shaft 12. The shaft 12 extends vertically within the tube 18 and has its lower end bearinged in the extension 55. Stops 120 are provided on the shaft 12 to limit the vertical movement ereof.

A cap 13 is placed on the upper end of the shaft .12 and is secured thereto by means of a set screw the bottom of the casing 58; A fan is secured,

in a horizontal position, to the lower end of the tube 15. This-fan is for the purpose of causing circulation of thewater in the storage compartment II. ing 58 below the base 52. andis circulated ver.' tically therethrough. The water will pass through the cooling coil 38'and discharge from the casing 58 through the openings 5|.

The means for driving the circulating fan' 15 end of which is secured to the lower end of the The water is drawn into the casshaft 12 and the opposite end of the cable is connected to the hub 8| of the flywheel of the compressor 35. The cable consists of a flexible driving member 82 surrounded by a flexible casing 83. The ends of the cable 82 are provided with square-shaped ends 84 and 85.- The end 85 of the cable extends into a square opening 85 provided in the lower end of the shaft and the end 84 extends into a squareopening 81 provided in an adaptor fitting 88 which is threaded upon the threaded portion 88 of the compressor flywheel hub 8|. One end of the flexible casing 83, surrounding the cable 82, is secured by means of an adaptor fitting 9| to the threaded portion 55a of the extension 55 and the opposite end of the casing is secured by means of an adaptor fitting 98 to an upright member 92; The upright member 82 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the high side float 34.

The cooling coil, of the combined cooling and agitator unit, is to be connected to the refrigerant liquefying unit, by the interconnecting conduits prior to the time of installation of the equipment in the beverage cooler. To provide for this installation of the cooling coil in the storage compartment II, it is necessary that some provision be made whereby the refrigerant lines from the refrigerant liquefying unit to the cooling coil can be removably positioned within a wall of the beverage cooler. We have provided this means by placing a groove I88 in the top edge of the rear wall I8I of the storage compartment. The liquid refrigerant line 33, the gaseous refrigerant line 32, and the conduit connecting the control bulb 43 with switch 42 can rise vertically from the machinery compartment I2 and along the rear wall IN to the top thereof. The conduits can then pass horizontally through the groove I88 and thence into the storage compartment II. The gasket I8 upon which the flange I9 of the top I5 is adapted to seal will pass over the top of the conduits 32, 33 and 44 respectively, thereby providing a continuous seal for the top I5. The extension 55 is placed through the bottom wall l5 of the storage compartment, the nut 51 retaining the cooling and agitating assembly in position.

Up to this time, the driving connection between the agitator and the refrigerant liquefying unit has not been made. But with the cooling and agitating assembly in position in the storage compartment and upon the refrigerant liquefying unit being placed in position'in the machinery compartment, the driving connection therebetween can now be made.- The ends of the flexible drive shaft are placed in their respective positions in the end of the shaft 12 and the fitting 88, onthe hub of the compressor flywhel 48, and are retained in place by means 'of the adaptor fittings 98 and 8|. The ends of -the' stationary casing 83 are also retained in position by the adaptor fittings 88 and 8I. A rubber covering member 85 is provided for enclosing the adaptor fitting 8| and the end of the casing 88 associated therewith to prevent condensation of moisture thereon;

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: i

1. Refrigerating apparatus, including anminsulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath and articles to be cooled immersed ant to and for withdrawing expanded ant from said evaporating means, refrigerant therein, an evaporating means positioned for absorbing heat from the liquid bath, a refrigerant liquefying means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing expanded refrigerant from the evaporating means, agitating means positioned adjacent said evaporating means, said agitating means extending through the bottom wall of the insulated enclosure, and means operatively connecting the agitating means to therefrigerant liquefying means. for driving said agitating means.

2. Refrigerating'*apparatus, including an insulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath and articles to be cooled immersed therein, an evaporating means comprising a tubular member submerged in the bath, a refrigerant liquefying means forsupplying liquid refrigerrefrigerconduits for connecting said evaporating means and said refrigerant liquefying means, said conduits extending exteriorly of said enclosure near the top wall thereof, agitating means positioned withinthe confinesof the evaporating .means,

3. Refrigerating app'aratus,'including an in-' sulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath and articles to be cooled immersed therein, an evaporating means comprising a tubular member submerged in the bath, a refrigerant liquefying means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing expanded refrigerant from said evaporating means, refrigerant circulating conduits for connecting said evaporating means and said refrigerant liquefyingmeans, a thermal element positioned within the insulated enclosure, a control element positioned exteriorly of said insulated enclosure operatively connected by a conduit to said thermal element, said refrigerant circulating conduits and said control element conduit extending exteriorly of the insulated enclosure near the top wall thereof, agitating means positioned within the confines of the evaporating means, said agitating means having a drive shaft extending exteriorly of said enclosure, and means operatively connecting the agitating means to the refrigerant liquefying means.

4. Refrigerating apparatus, including an insulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath and articles to be cooled immersed therein, an evaporating means positioned for absorbing heat from the liquid bath, a refrigerant liquefying meansfor supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing expanded refrigerant from the evaporating means, refrigerant conduits for connecting said evaporating means and said refrigerant liquefying means, said conduits J extending exteriorly of said enclosure near the rator and shell being positioned for absorbing heat from the liquid bath, a refrigerant liquefying means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing expanded refrigerantfrom the evaporating means, agitating means positioned adjacent said evaporating means, said agitating means extending through the bottom wall of the insulated enclosure, and means operatively connecting the agitating means to the refrigerant liquefying means for driving said agitating means.

6. Refrigerating apparatus, including an insulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath and articles to be cooled immersed therein, an evaporating means comprising a tubular member submerged in the bath, a refrigerant liquefy: ing means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing expanded refrigerant from said evaporating means, refrigerant conduits for connecting said evaporating means and said refrigerant liquefying means, said conduits extending exteriorly of said enclosure near the top wall thereof, agitating means positioned centrally within the evaporating means, said agitating means having a drive shaft extending through the bottom wall of the insulated enclosure, and means operatively connecting the agitating means to the refrigerant liquefying means for driving said agitating means.

"l. Refrigerating apparatus, including an insu-.- lated enclosure'containing a liquid heat transfer bath and articles to be cooled immersed therein,

an evaporating means comprising a tubular member submerged in. the bath, a refrigerant liquefying means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing expanded refrigerant from said evaporating means, refrigerant conduits forconnecting said evaporating means and said refrigerant liquefying means, said conduits extending exteriorly of said enclosure near the top wall an evaporating means comprising a tubular mem- 1 ber submerged in the bath, a refrigerant liquefying means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing expanded refrigerant from said evaporating means, refrigerant conduits for connecting said evaporating means and said refrig erant liquefying means, said conduits extending exteriorly .of said enclosure near the top wall thereof, agitating means positioned centrally within the evaporating means, said agitating means having a drive shaft extending through the bottom wall of the insulated enclosure, and

flexible driving means operatively connecting the agitating means to the flywheel of the compressor of the refrigerant liquefying means.

9. Refrigerating apparatus, including an insulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath, evaporating means positioned for absorbing heat from the liquid bath, refrigerant liquefying means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the evaporating means, refrigerant conduits, said conduits extending from said evaporating means and passing over the top edge of a side wall of said enclosure and connected to said refrigerant liquefying means, agitating means positioned adjacent said evaporating means, said agitating means extending through the bottom wall of the insulated enclosure, and means operatively connecting the agitating means to the refrigerant liquefying means.

10. A bottle cooling cabinet comprising an insulated tank containing a liquid heat transfer bath, a machinery compartment positioned below said tank, evaporating means positioned within said tank, refrigerant liquefying means positioned in said machinery compartment, refrigerant conduits, said conduits extending from said evaporating means and passing over the top edge of a side wall of said tank and connected to said refrigerant liquefying means, agitating means positioned adjacent said evaporating means, said agitating means extending through the bottom wall of the insulated enclosure, and means operatively connecting the agitating means to the refrigerant liquefying means. a

11. Refrigerating apparatus, including an insulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath and articles to be cooled immersed therein, a cooling means positioned for absorbing heat from the liquid bath, a refrigerant circulating means for supplying refrigerant to and for withdrawing refrigerant from the cooling means, agitating means positioned adjacent said cooling means, said agitating meansextending through the bottom wall of the insulated enclosure, and

means operatively connecting the agitating means to the refrigerant circulating means for driving said agitating means.

12. Refrigerating apparatus, including an insulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath, cooling means positioned for absorbing heat from the liquid bath, agitating means positioned adjacent said cooling means, refrigerant circulating means positioned below said cooling means and said agitating means, refrigerant conduits, said conduits extending exteriorly of said enclosure and connecting said cooling means to said refrigerant circulating means, and means operatively connecting said agitating means to said refrigerant circulating means.

13. Refrigerating apparatus, including an insulated enclosure containing a liquid heat transfer bath, cooling means positioned for absorbing heat from the liquid bath, agitating means positioned adjacent said cooling means, refrigerant circulating means positioned below said cooling means and said agitating means, refrigerant conduits, said conduits extending exteriorly of said enclosure and connecting said cooling means to said refrigerant circulating means, and means operatively connecting said agitating means to said refrigerant circulating means, said cooling and agitating means being removable from said enclosure without disconnecting said conduits.

HERMAN J. DICK.

ROBERT E. FLEMING. 

